If a customer, visitor or employee slips on your floor and is injured, you may be liable. UK law places a clear duty on those who control premises to make sure floors are safe — and "we didn't realise it was slippery" is not a defence. Here are the main legal duties in plain English, and how to protect your business.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For advice on your specific circumstances, consult a solicitor.
The main regulation: Workplace Regulations 1992
The central rule is Regulation 12 of the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, headed "Condition of floors and traffic routes." It requires, in summary, that:
- Every floor and traffic route must be suitable for the purpose for which it is used.
- Floors must have no hole or slope, and not be uneven or slippery, in a way that exposes anyone to a risk to their health or safety.
- So far as is reasonably practicable, floors must be kept free from obstructions and from anything that may cause a person to slip, trip or fall.
The phrase "so far as is reasonably practicable" is important: the law expects you to take sensible, proportionate steps, not to eliminate every conceivable risk at any cost.
The bigger picture: the Health and Safety at Work Act
Sitting above the 1992 Regulations is the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which places a general duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of employees and of others affected by their work — including customers and visitors. Slippery floors fall squarely within this duty. Occupiers of premises also owe duties to lawful visitors under the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957.
Why this matters commercially
Slips and trips are the single most common cause of non-fatal workplace injury in Britain, according to HSE. Beyond the human cost, an incident can bring a personal-injury claim, higher insurance premiums, an HSE investigation, and reputational damage. The Health and Safety Executive can and does prosecute where floors are left dangerous and nothing is done.
How to demonstrate due diligence
The good news is that the law rewards businesses that act reasonably and keep records. A defensible approach looks like this:
- Assess the risk. Identify areas that get wet or are prone to contamination — entrances, kitchens, washrooms, pool surrounds.
- Measure it objectively. A pendulum slip test gives you a Pendulum Test Value (PTV) and a written report — hard evidence of your floor's condition. HSE regards the pendulum as its preferred test method.
- Fix what needs fixing. Where a floor scores poorly, an anti-slip treatment can raise its slip resistance without the cost and disruption of replacement.
- Re-test and certify. A post-treatment test and Certificate of Conformity document the improvement.
- Keep it up. Maintain a sensible cleaning regime and re-test periodically. A paper trail of regular testing is one of the strongest signs of due diligence.
If a claim ever arises, this record shows you took the risk seriously and acted on it — which is exactly what the law asks.
Frequently asked questions
Do the rules only apply to employees?
No. Your duties extend to customers, contractors and visitors, not just staff.
Is there a legal minimum PTV I must hit?
There is no single statutory number. The recognised benchmark for low slip potential is a PTV of 36+, but the law is framed around managing risk reasonably for how the space is actually used.
We have wet floor signs — isn't that enough?
Signs help but rarely discharge your duty on their own, especially where a floor is slippery in normal use. Signage is a short-term control, not a substitute for a genuinely safe surface.